More Aboriginal people live in Canada's cities than on reserves or remote parts of the country. Several generations have grown in relative silence until recent years when the Aboriginal community and governments began in earnest to focus on their Urban Aboriginal issues and needs. This forum is here for you to provide useful and creative information to help address those needs. Let's share what works, not just what's wrong.

Ron Swain, National Vice-Chief, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples: Good evening, Mr. Chair, and committee members. It is a pleasure to be here in the traditional territory of the Algonquin peoples to speak to you about Bill C-27, An Act to enhance the financial accountability and transparency of First Nations.

My name is Ron Swain. I am the national vice chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. Since 1971, the congress has represented the rights and interests of off-reserve, non-status, status, Metis and Inuit Aboriginal people living in urban, rural, remote and isolated areas across Canada.

I will begin by commending the government on taking the necessary steps to move forward with Bill C-27. In 2002, the Joint Ministerial Advisory Committee concluded in their report that it seemed reasonable that legislation could provide the basis for establishing consistent and comprehensive band financial management and accountability regimes. The Joint Ministerial Advisory Committee report was also instrumental in forming the proposed First Nations governance act. The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples participated in the original consultations under that governance act, Bill C-7.

We further endorsed the notion of having First Nations bands provide greater financial accountability to their band members. Our organization contends that greater financial accountability should be provided to all First Nations people, both on and off reserve. Under the Indian Act, First Nations are accountable to the minister and not to the community. Our concern about financial accountability is to distinguish who should be accountable and to whom.

We do believe First Nations governments should be accountable to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and they should be accountable to the Aboriginal people who live in the communities both on and off reserve. This is a simple matter of good governance. All citizens of Canada should expect greater financial accountability from their governments, whether it is federal, provincial, municipal or band councils. Hypothetically, if you are living in or associated with a First Nation community and ask members, "Would you like to know what your government is spending money on and why?" the most probable answer is, "Yes, I would like to know."

There are band members who live away from their communities and have a direct and ongoing interest in the governance of their home communities. Since the Corbiereg decision, they have had the right to vote in elections and they have the right to participate in and vote on decisions regarding specific claims and resource issues. If off-reserve people are to participate fully and be confident that policies that affect them are being correctly applied, they require this information. Improved transparency and accountability will strengthen community bonds and allow community members to fully exercise their democratic rights.

It is fair to say I am a big proponent of financial accountability, not only for Aboriginal people but for all governments. Financial accountability locally allows citizens and their communities to go further and build upon their communities' success. The communities that are providing financial accountability to their community members prove this point. Take, for instance, the Nisga'ag Lisims government in British Columbia, a self-governing community that is quite successful in its own right.

As I stated earlier, the congress represents the interests of Aboriginal people who live off reserve, tax paying Aboriginal people who want to know why, when, where and how their tax dollars are being spent. Our organization believes in providing accountability to its members, which is why we publish our audited statements online for all constituents to view In our audited statements, you are told the salary of our national chief, as well as shown her travel expenses for the year. Her salary is taxable and she remits income taxes each year, as I do.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples stands by the notion that if Aboriginal governments are to be seen as legitimate governments, they have to be held to the same standard of government, public or private organizations; corporations; or community non-profits when it comes to accountability and transparency.

Recently, the Federal Court ruled in the Daniels decision. This decision affirmed the position of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples that Metis and non-status Indians are Indians under the Constitution, granting some 600,000 Aboriginal people across Canada rights and legitimacy previously denied.

With this ruling, it is paramount for our organization and our communities to continue to move forward in the 21st century and exercise, or preferably exceed, the standard of financial accountability and transparency, not only for ourselves, but for our future and the future of all Aboriginal peoples and Canadians. Thank you.